Driving Safety: Ghana vs. Samoa - Key Differences Explained
Discover the unique aspects of road travel in Ghana and Samoa. This comparison highlights significant distinctions in regulations, lane usage, speed limits, and emergency protocols. From driving on opposite sides to varying alcohol limits, understanding these nuances is crucial for ensuring a safe and enjoyable journey in these diverse countries.
Lanes
| Ghana | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Driving Side | Right | Left |
| Markings: Solid Yellow Line | Marks the left edge on divided roads. | Marks the centerline on two-way roads. |
| Overtaking: On Left | Yes | No |
| Overtaking: On Right | Generally not advised. | Yes |
| Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles | Use rightmost lane. | Use leftmost lane. |
Driving Side
ghana:
Right
samoa:
Left
Markings: Solid Yellow Line
ghana:
Marks the left edge on divided roads.
samoa:
Marks the centerline on two-way roads.
Overtaking: On Left
ghana:
Yes
samoa:
No
Overtaking: On Right
ghana:
Generally not advised.
samoa:
Yes
Lane Usage: Slow Vehicles
ghana:
Use rightmost lane.
samoa:
Use leftmost lane.
Speeds Limits
| Ghana | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Urban Areas: Standard | 50 km/h | 25-40 km/h |
| Urban Areas: Residential Zones | 50 km/h | 20 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Buses And Vans | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers | 80 km/h | 55-80 km/h |
| Highways: Cars And Motorcycles | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Buses And Vans | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
| Highways: Trucks And Trailers | 100 km/h | Not applicable |
Urban Areas: Standard
ghana:
50 km/h
samoa:
25-40 km/h
Urban Areas: Residential Zones
ghana:
50 km/h
samoa:
20 km/h
Rural Areas: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Buses And Vans
ghana:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Rural Areas: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
80 km/h
samoa:
55-80 km/h
Highways: Cars And Motorcycles
ghana:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Buses And Vans
ghana:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Highways: Trucks And Trailers
ghana:
100 km/h
samoa:
Not applicable
Signals
| Ghana | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together | Not used in Ghana | Not used in Samoa |
| Traffic Signs: Language | English | English and Samoan; symbols are standard |
| Traffic Signs: Warning | Triangular with red border | Diamond-shaped with yellow background |
Traffic Lights: Red And Amber Together
ghana:
Not used in Ghana
samoa:
Not used in Samoa
Traffic Signs: Language
ghana:
English
samoa:
English and Samoan; symbols are standard
Traffic Signs: Warning
ghana:
Triangular with red border
samoa:
Diamond-shaped with yellow background
Turns
| Ghana | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Right Turn On Red | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign | Not allowed |
| U- Turns Allowed | Prohibited unless indicated | Allowed unless prohibited by a sign |
Right Turn On Red
ghana:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
samoa:
Not allowed
U- Turns Allowed
ghana:
Prohibited unless indicated
samoa:
Allowed unless prohibited by a sign
Documentation
| Ghana | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Inspection: Requirement | Mandatory | Annual inspection required |
| Vehicle Inspection: Sticker | Displayed on vehicle | Displayed on windshield |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory |
Vehicle Inspection: Requirement
ghana:
Mandatory
samoa:
Annual inspection required
Vehicle Inspection: Sticker
ghana:
Displayed on vehicle
samoa:
Displayed on windshield
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory
Road Etiquette
| Ghana | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm | Frequent use compared to some countries | Less frequent use compared to some countries |
| Emergency Vehicles: Protocol | Pull over to the right and stop if necessary | Pull over to the left and stop if necessary |
Use Of Horn: Cultural Norm
ghana:
Frequent use compared to some countries
samoa:
Less frequent use compared to some countries
Emergency Vehicles: Protocol
ghana:
Pull over to the right and stop if necessary
samoa:
Pull over to the left and stop if necessary
Alcohol
| Ghana | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Limits: Professional Drivers | 0.05% | 0.02% |
| Limits: Underage Drivers | 0.00% | 0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance |
| Enforcement: Random Checks | Yes, used occasionally | Common |
| Enforcement: Fines | Substantial | Varies; can be substantial |
Limits: Professional Drivers
ghana:
0.05%
samoa:
0.02%
Limits: Underage Drivers
ghana:
0.00%
samoa:
0.00% to 0.02%; zero tolerance
Enforcement: Random Checks
ghana:
Yes, used occasionally
samoa:
Common
Enforcement: Fines
ghana:
Substantial
samoa:
Varies; can be substantial
Roundabouts
| Ghana | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Signaling: Exiting | Signal right when preparing to exit | Signal left when preparing to exit |
Signaling: Exiting
ghana:
Signal right when preparing to exit
samoa:
Signal left when preparing to exit
Emergency Services
| Ghana | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Contact: General Emergency | 191 | 911 |
| Contact: Traffic Police | 18555 | 685-22-222 |
| Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles | Mandatory | Not mandatory, but recommended |
Contact: General Emergency
ghana:
191
samoa:
911
Contact: Traffic Police
ghana:
18555
samoa:
685-22-222
Emergency Equipment: Warning Triangles
ghana:
Mandatory
samoa:
Not mandatory, but recommended
Penalties And Fines
| Ghana | Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Common Fines: Speeding | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license |
| Common Fines: Seat Belts | Moderate fines | ST$100 to ST$200 |
| Common Fines: Phone Use | Fines apply for holding and using a phone | ST$50 to ST$300 |
| Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation | Varies; moderate to substantial fines | ST$100 to ST$500, points on license |
| Payment: On The Spot | Common | Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards |
Common Fines: Speeding
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
samoa:
Varies; ST$50 to ST$500, points on license
Common Fines: Seat Belts
ghana:
Moderate fines
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$200
Common Fines: Phone Use
ghana:
Fines apply for holding and using a phone
samoa:
ST$50 to ST$300
Common Fines: Traffic Light Violation
ghana:
Varies; moderate to substantial fines
samoa:
ST$100 to ST$500, points on license
Payment: On The Spot
ghana:
Common
samoa:
Yes; fines usually paid online or by mail afterwards